AuthorTopic: The Devils (Ken Russell, 1971) (Read 36431 times)

The full version did not screen on TV. However, the X-rated print did screen at the same time as the Kermode doco HELL ON EARTH and the latter featured both the 'Rape of Christ' sequence and the one in which Redgrave gives herself a frigging with Ollie's femur, in 2002, I think. Pretty sure I heard that the Kermode doco was cut at the insistence of WB before it could be used on the BFI DVD but I've not checked mine so cannot confirm.

The greymarket Alfadigital release (which is mastered from the widescreen VHS) does contain the additional scenes crudely added in and the uncut version of the Kermode documentary.

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"Allow me to explain. Your mother is a whore, your father is a damn thief, and your grandfather is a notorious fag... and as for your sister..." - Yodlaf Peterson

The full version did not screen on TV. However, the X-rated print did screen at the same time as the Kermode doco HELL ON EARTH and the latter featured both the 'Rape of Christ' sequence and the one in which Redgrave gives herself a frigging with Ollie's femur, in 2002, I think. Pretty sure I heard that the Kermode doco was cut at the insistence of WB before it could be used on the BFI DVD but I've not checked mine so cannot confirm.

The greymarket Alfadigital release (which is mastered from the widescreen VHS) does contain the additional scenes crudely added in and the uncut version of the Kermode documentary.

Ahh ok. That is probably it then. I remember the "frigging" scene. It was quite some time ago now so my memory is hazy at best.

Finally watched it again, and it is still an amazing film. I have to say though that I certainly have seen a version with the rape of Christ included in it and I also recall her a scene where you can see Vanessa Redgrave from behind apparently frigging herself with the charred bone of Grandier, I am sure of it, and my girlfriend remembers watching it too. We remembered where the scenes should be as we were watching it.

I seem to recall that I had recorded it off the TV but unfortunately I only have a couple of VHS left and none of them have The Devils on them. I hadn't seen the documentary before this DVD and the scenes seem to have been cut from the DVD. Is it possible that the BBC have a longer cut and this was aired some years ago?

You are describing the LFVW boot which took the BBC tv broadcast and cut in those 2 sequences culled from the HELL ON EARTH doc. That's the only place those 2 bits have been re inserted into the body of the film.It's discussed a few posts above ^

medway garage

Unfortunately apart from a few select special screenings at cinemas the [near] directors cut has not been seen on TV, i was lucky enough to see it on the big screen earlier this year on 19th March at the BFI South Bank,London.......incredible ! This version included the 'Rape of Christ' and the short extention to the 'Bone' scene.

Yesterday I watched this totally amazing film. I didn't even realise that the film would be this powerful. The story is superb and shows the absurdity of that time. When you were accused of witchcraft there really weren't anything you could do. Politics were the reason for these totally insane acts. How much of this is real, I really have to find out. The character of Father Grandier was great, just like sister Jeanne and Father Pierre Barre.

The surroundings of the film were weird, futuristic maybe, but it worked like a charm. The feel of the world was something similar to Clockwork Orange. This is one those rare movies that every actor does amazing job. Especially Oliver Reed who does the best performance of his life!

In recent years, a 109-minuted unrated U.S. version of the film has been touring repertory theaters and film festivals around the world, but until this morning, it was entirely unavailable on streaming services